Apprentice Grounds Maintenance Operative (private gardens)
CREATIVE LANDSCAPE COMPANY LTD
Twyford, RG10 9PN
Closes on Thursday 31 October
Posted on 17 September 2024
Summary
An opportunity has arisen for an apprentice garden maintenance and planting operative to join our team. The successful candidate will work with our maintenance teams learning all aspects of garden maintenance and planting. Duties include grass cutting, soil cultivation, pruning and hedge trimming.
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Training course
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Horticulture or landscape construction operative (level 2)
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Hours
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Monday - Friday 07.30 - 16.30
40 hours a week
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Possible start date
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Friday 1 November
Work
As an apprentice, you’ll work at a company and get hands-on experience. You’ll gain new skills and
work alongside experienced staff.
What you’ll do at work
- To help maintain our clients’ private gardens to a high standard. We enjoy what we do and want the future apprentice to enjoy this industry too as well learn from us
- We are willing to teach our skills and want someone who is willing to learn
Duties to include:
- Visiting grounds and gardens to carry out horticultural tasks
- Weeding
- Machinery maintenance
- Selecting and using tools and equipment consistent with risk assessments
- Operate machinery
- Client/customer care/communication
- Selecting and wearing appropriate footwear and clothing
- Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with colleagues
- Any other duties as required to achieve the expected standard
Where you’ll work
Creative Landscape Company Ltd
The Big Plant Nursery
Wargrave Road
Twyford
RG10 9PN
Training
An apprenticeship includes regular training with a college or
other training organisation. At least 20% of your working hours will be spent training or studying.
College or training organisation
THE WINDSOR FOREST COLLEGES GROUP
Your training course
Horticulture or landscape construction operative (level 2)
Equal to GCSE
Course contents
(Core) Apply health and safety processes and procedures including risk assessments and or construction design management (CDM), manual handling, legislative requirements and organisational policies. Follow safe systems of work and safety information in line with employer requirements or site context (for example clearing their route before transporting materials).
(Core) Apply environmental mitigation measures including storage and disposal of waste, for example sorting materials for recycling or composting, acting in compliance with legal requirements, organisational policies and pollution controls.
(Core) Select, undertake a pre start check, set up, clean, store and safely operate tools, equipment and machinery (including pedestrian controlled and handheld) in line with current legislation and business policies.
(Core) Communicate with technical (for example supervisors or managers) and non-technical audiences (for example clients or the public) using language appropriate to the audience.
(Core) Identify plants commonly grown in the UK by scientific names including genus species and or cultivar.
(Core) Maintain the correct phytosanitary and bio-security procedures for the site, in accordance with legal requirements.
(Core) Identify and report symptoms and or signs of commonly found UK plant pests, pathogens and disorders.
(Core) Maintain plant health for example providing for basic needs such as water, nutrition (either organic or inorganic), light.
(Core) Cultivate, improve and preserve soils by mechanical methods and or by hand including amelioration and mulching (these might be imported or natural).
(Core) Clear unwanted vegetation, selecting techniques to be used (for example weeding).
(Core) Remove unwanted or damaged growth from plants using a pruning cut.
(Core) Plant shrubs and a tree using a simple tree pit.
(Core) Install turf for situation.
(Core) Mow turf using pedestrian controlled powered driven mower.
(Core) Maintain or protect hard surfaces, features or structures for example painting, re-gravelling, removing weeds from paving, drain clearance, cleaning.
(Core) Use digital tools and techniques for research, collaboration, continuous professional development and resolution of problems.
(Landscape construction) Measure and set out an uncomplicated site in preparation for landscape construction activities.
(Landscape construction) Use free hand cutting and or bench cutting of hard landscape materials using abrasive wheels.
(Landscape construction) Repair constructed landscape features (simple and noncomplex) for example re-grouting, re-sanding, damaged fencing.
(Landscape construction) Construct paved feature for example path, patio or shed base. Including setting levels, sub bases, laying bases, finishing.
(Landscape construction) Construct vertical landscape features including fences, ornamental vertical features, and walls.
(Landscape construction) Install drainage in landscaping.
(Landscape construction) Construct horizontal landscape features (excluding paving).
(Horticulture) Propagate plants by cuttings and seed sowing (this might be indoors or outdoors). Including selection of suitable growing media and or soil.
(Horticulture) Provide aftercare to recently installed turf and maintain established turf or species rich meadows including irrigation, maintenance, monitoring health and protection from use.
(Horticulture) Identify if plants are suitable to site, purpose and aesthetics.
(Horticulture) Maintain soft landscapes for example - staking or support, division, seasonal clearance, and re-planting.
(Horticulture) Monitor and control plant pests, pathogens, and disorders using basic control methods (including application of chemicals or organic equivalents).
(Horticulture) Plant herbaceous and seasonal planting (for example bedding, herbs or bulbs).
(Horticulture) Prune plants to achieve healthy growth and form (including natural habit and formal or trained form).
(Core) Apply health and safety processes and procedures including risk assessments and or construction design management (CDM), manual handling, legislative requirements and organisational policies. Follow safe systems of work and safety information in line with employer requirements or site context (for example clearing their route before transporting materials).
(Core) Apply environmental mitigation measures including storage and disposal of waste, for example sorting materials for recycling or composting, acting in compliance with legal requirements, organisational policies and pollution controls.
(Core) Select, undertake a pre start check, set up, clean, store and safely operate tools, equipment and machinery (including pedestrian controlled and handheld) in line with current legislation and business policies.
(Core) Communicate with technical (for example supervisors or managers) and non-technical audiences (for example clients or the public) using language appropriate to the audience.
(Core) Identify plants commonly grown in the UK by scientific names including genus species and or cultivar.
(Core) Maintain the correct phytosanitary and bio-security procedures for the site, in accordance with legal requirements.
(Core) Identify and report symptoms and or signs of commonly found UK plant pests, pathogens and disorders.
(Core) Maintain plant health for example providing for basic needs such as water, nutrition (either organic or inorganic), light.
(Core) Cultivate, improve and preserve soils by mechanical methods and or by hand including amelioration and mulching (these might be imported or natural).
(Core) Clear unwanted vegetation, selecting techniques to be used (for example weeding).
(Core) Remove unwanted or damaged growth from plants using a pruning cut.
(Core) Plant shrubs and a tree using a simple tree pit.
(Core) Install turf for situation.
(Core) Mow turf using pedestrian controlled powered driven mower.
(Core) Maintain or protect hard surfaces, features or structures for example painting, re-gravelling, removing weeds from paving, drain clearance, cleaning.
(Core) Use digital tools and techniques for research, collaboration, continuous professional development and resolution of problems.
Your training plan
- Level 2 Horticulture Operative Apprenticeship
- Level 2 Functional Skills in English and maths (unless exempt)
- PA2 - Safe Handling & Application of Pesticides
- Level 3 Emergency First Aid at Work
- One day a week at the BCA campus
- Assessor will visit learners at the workplace
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE or equivalent in:
- English (grade 4 / C or above)
- Maths (grade 4 / C or above)
Let the company know about other relevant qualifications and industry experience you have. They can
adjust the apprenticeship to reflect what you already know.
Skills
- Communication skills
- Physical fitness
- Punctual
- Positive Attitude
- Self-Motivated
Other requirements
There is a requirement to be physically fit and able. There is lifting of equipment, and quite a lot of physical activity and movement involved.
We also, within reason, work in all weathers.
You will sometimes have direct contact with clients so will need to be polite and cheerful at all times with a professional attitude.
No need to worry, we will look after you!
About this company
Creative Landscape Co have been designing, building and maintaining award winning gardens for over 35 years and also offers a fantastic range of plants and trees from our very own Nursery, The Big Plant Nursery in Twyford near Reading in Berkshire.
We became employee owned in 2021, staff are all employee owners with a trust board to represent them. We have a staff forum to help our employee owners to have a genuine say in the running of the business.
Our aim is to add everyday value to peoples lives through the enrichment of their outdoor spaces. The company value words are: Creativity, Communication, Respect, Development & Sustainability.
We are very proud to have received various national awards for gardens we have been involved with including Gold Medals at RHS Chelsea Flower Show.
We work across Berkshire and adjacent counties for predominantly domestic and clients and our emphasis on providing inspiring ideas and a professional, but individual service remains at the heart of everything we do.
http://www.creative-landscape.co.uk (opens in new tab)
After this apprenticeship
- Possibility of a full-time post, upon successful completion of your apprenticeship
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
THE WINDSOR FOREST COLLEGES GROUP
Priya Gill
priya.gill@windsor-forest.ac.uk
01753 443855
The reference code for this apprenticeship is
VAC1000277423.
Apply now
Closes on Thursday 31 October
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